What if something were happen to you?

With all the talk that pets are just like kids, have you made proper arrangements in case something were to happen to you? I'm not being morbid -- just practical. There are posts all the time on this board about people being hospitalized (and worse) and not being able to care for their pets.

You don't necessarily have to have a legal document written up (although I'm sure some of you have), but does at least one person outside your current household know your wishes with regards to your pets' care? Will they have the financial and physical resources to take on the responsibility of your pets?

I don't want to see people post "Well, I'd HOPE that..." or "I don't want to think about it." If you haven't taken care of this, you need give it some serious thought, then have a couple conversations.

I am curious to hear from the people that feel especially strongly against rehoming. If you are certain that your pet can not function without you, what is your plan?

Avoiding the topic won't make it any less likely to happen to you -- it will only make you less prepared.

Exelent question. If something were to happen to me..and me alone..than my husband would take care of my wolfdog. Although, with the fact in mind that at my age if something were to happen to me, it would likely be something like a car accident in which case my whole family would likely be involved. So yes, I have talked to one of my closest friends about what to do with my boy if I wasn't around to take care of him anymore. I have also talked with my mother and she knows what I want done. For me, there is only one person that I would allow to take my wolfdog if the situation ever arose. And thats because this one person has a special bond with my boy and I believe that my wolfdog might be able to adjust to him. But if that pairing is not possible both my mom and my friend have promised to take him and put him down humanly. It breaks my heart to think about it, but knowing my wolfdog like I do it would be too cruel to do anything else.

Very good question. I don't have any pets right now, but if something were to happen to me, my g/f would take care of the pet. I don't have a back up plan should something happen to the both of us. It is something that I'll think about and discuss with anyone involved. I am glad that I have time to think about it though.

Good discussion, well I'm still researching which breed I'm going to get and won't have a puppy until June or July. But that is a really good question. I have a very close friend that not only is an extremely pet lover, but a very sweet and giving person. Only problem is that she stays in a pet free apartment. So hopefully in that situation she would've either moved to a new place by than or my brother would become my backup. He has two small children, but I hope to get my nieces comfortable around my pet so that will not make it a problem. They're dog lovers and are just waiting for their children to get older before getting a family pet.